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In the second of our series of Rising Stars, an initiative to identify young and innovative West Midlands technology companies, we look to Coventry and Warwickshire. We asked the companies a series of questions to find out what they offer, the secret to their success and future plans. We start with RuralNet Futures, a company that builds web based services to support good causes such as Project Rurener, a project that aims to reduce carbon usage in rural communities in 8 EU countries. Our second company Tortrix Ltd develops software for healthcare providers. Its electronic patient discharge system is currently on trial at the George Elliot Hospital in Nuneaton. Finally Embed Ltd, an embedded systems consultancy that focuses on real-time control systems using model-based design techniques to improve quality and productivity. 
RuralNet Futures Please summarise in 100 words what your company does We work with our clients to deliver bespoke Internet based solutions. We pay particular attention to helping them understand the need for a website and how it can supplement and enhance their business processes.
Our solutions are delivered in Wordpress Multi User (WPMU), a powerful open source Content Management System. Wordpress is designed to enable non-technical staff to manage their own content, removing substantial IT support costs typically faced by business. We offer consultancy, project management and products which promote knowledge dissemination. Our projects support good causes such as environmental initiatives, programmes to encourage increased use in IT and the SMB sector.
In one sentence, describe your main product or service
We build web based services using the Wordpress platform and other social media tools. Once the web services are built, we train our clients to manage their content. When was the company set up and by whom?
In July 2009 by Rob Mannion, Managing Director
How many people do you employ?
Two senior technical and social media experts, a database consultant and certified project manager.
What has been the main factor behind your success to date?
Our technical team applies real focus in becoming world class experts in delivering our preferred Content Management System, Wordpress, enabling us to be at the forefront of Wordpress development in the UK and Europe. We also build on lessons learnt for each customer implementation. For these reasons, we have a great product, a fantastic team and are extremely competitive.
What have been your company’s biggest achievements?
We have secured two Pan European deals in the last six months to deliver their respective programme websites, project management and lead UK activity. Project Rurener’s objective is to reduce carbon usage in rural communities in 8 EU countries and Efficient:20’s aim is to reduce fuel consumption in farming by 20% over three years with 600 pilot farmers in scope through 10 countries. Most recently we have begun work on delivering a training portal to support nearly 200 housing schemes on behalf of two Government Agencies, delivered a community engagement / consultation site for Cambridgeshire County Council (to be launched mid-June) and also delivered the Mastergardeners website which supports multiple Local Authorities and is funded by the Big Lottery.
What are the three biggest factors that have contributed to your success?
We have a fantastic dynamic within our team and build a strong rapport with our customers.
Working in partnership with clients, our solutions are designed in a collaborative manner leading to great results.
Networking is a key function and our recent work helps convince clients to do business with us. What are the advantages of being based in the West Midlands?
Good central location with some excellent business support services and networking events have all played an important role in our initial success. What is your goal for the next 3 years?
To be regarded as premier Wordpress Developers within the UK and increase our customer base significantly. We also have a number of pilot projects we aim to market as “off the shelf” packages such as our Knowledge Bank product, a dynamic FAQ service which we are currently building into several clients solutions.
 Tortrix Ltd
Summarise in 100 words what your company does Tortrix Ltd produces innovative software using cutting-edge Microsoft technologies. We are currently developing software products for the healthcare market which aim to provide carers with proactive tools using clinical dashboards to both assess ward efficiencies in line with government targets and also improve the quality of a patient’s spell of care (our Saving Lives, Essence of Care and Tissue Viability tools).
Our electronic patient discharge system which allows clinicians to produce a summary of treatment and prescribed drugs which can be instantly transmitted to the patient’s GP surgery is currently on trial at the George Elliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
In one sentence, describe your main product or service
Tortrix’s Tissue Viability software allows carers to take a uniquely proactive approach to assessing and preventing pressure ulcers, enabling them to improve patient care while reducing overall treatment costs.
When was the company set up and by whom?
The company was founded in 2008 by John Nunn
How many people do you employ?
Three people.
What has been the main factor behind your success to date?
Our ability to engage with end users to provide software tools with a rich user interface that enhances and improves their work practices.
What have been your company’s biggest achievements?
Our recent partnership with Coventry University which we hope will lead to international recognition as our new software suite prepares for launch.
What are major factors that have contributed to your success?
• Our partnership with Microsoft
• The help and advice given in developing our business by Coventry University Enterprises and MediLinkWM.
What are the advantages of being based in the West Midlands?
One of the advantages of being based in the West Midlands is that we are located within the largest NHS cluster in the country while allowing easy transport access to other regions. Our offices in the Health Design Technology Institute located within Coventry University’s Technology Park have provided us with excellent conference facilities and meeting rooms to enable us to engage with clients.
What is your goal for the next 3 years?
We aim to increase our product range, and become a world leader in software design for the healthcare industry, while expanding our consultancy business to meet the new challenges of the 21st century.
 Embed Ltd Please summarise in 100 words what your company does We are an embedded systems consultancy that focuses on real-time control systems using model-based design techniques to improve quality and productivity. In one sentence, describe your main product or service
We design and supply Electronic Control Units and program them according to our customers needs. We also empower other customers to program the Electronic Control Units to take ownership of their IPR and offer continued support to ensure they are successful. When was the company set up and by whom?
In May 2005 (it is our 5yr anniversary!) by Derek Hoyle, Ian Kirwan (left Embed in 2009) & Steve Glendining (left Embed in 2006). Ivan Wilson joined in 2007. How many people do you employ?
12 What has been the main factor behind your success to date?
A can-do and helpful attitude backed up with highly competent people and an eye always on quality. What have been your company’s biggest achievements?
Our biggest achievement is to be still on track, still growing and with a clear vision of where we want to be and all driving towards it. Consequently we are picking up more and more big name clients and they are looking to us to take on bigger and bigger projects. Exciting things are happening here in Embed. What are the three biggest factors that have contributed to your success?
• Great people in the team
• A passionate focus on quality
• Lean processes which helps us to do things smarter. What are the advantages of being based in the West Midlands?
This is the heart of the UK automotive industry which is ideal for us as an embedded automotive systems and software consulting company.
We are working on several electric and hybrid vehicle technologies and the West Midlands is the place to be, the support from Advantage West Midlands via the Low Carbon Vehicle initiative might prove very useful What is your goal for the next 3 years?
To build our own products and tools to help our customers get their ideas to market faster.
Any other relevant information:
We are building a strong relationship with a company called New Eagle to provide off-the-shelf Electronic Control Units, reducing the time to market and the price barriers of designing bespoke hardware.
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